Monarda plant named ‘Balbeemed’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant named ‘Balbeemed’, characterized by its medium red-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, good powdery mildew resistance, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Monarda didyma.

Variety denomination: ‘Balbeemed’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant botanically known as Monarda didyma and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbeemed’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during the summer 2012. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Monarda cultivars that are medium height, early flowering, and have good powdery mildew resistance.

The new Monarda cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Monarda didyma breeding selection coded MNR-193, not patented, characterized by its medium red-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during September 2013 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2013 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbeemed’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant:

-   -   1. Medium red-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Good powdery mildew resistance; and     -   4. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having increased growth vigor, lighter green colored foliage, and a taller, upright growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Monarda cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Balmy Rose ‘Balbalmose’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,567. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balbalmose’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have an inflorescence color that         is redder than plants of ‘Balbalmose’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and wider than plants         of ‘Balbalmose’ and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter, green-colored         foliage than plants of ‘Balbalmose’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balbeemed’. The plants were approximately 5.5 months old. The plants were grown three plants per pot in 1.7 gallon containers for approximately 3 months in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balbeemed’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balbeemed’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 5.5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown three plants per pot in 1.7 gallon containers for approximately 3 months in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a poly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures ranged from an average high of 79.5° F. (26.4° C.) to an average low of 68.5° F. (20.3° C.), and supplemental lighting was provided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant.

-   Botanical classification: Monarda didyma ‘Balbeemed’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Monarda didyma breeding selection             coded MNR-193, not patented.         -   Male Parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 9 to 11 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 (−30° F. to −20° F./−34.4° C. to             −28.9° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 38.0 cm. Width: Approximately 52.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 30.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent.             Color of young stems: 146C with a heavy overlay of 187A.             Color of mature stems: 146B with a heavy overlay of 187A,             becoming woody 200B with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 6. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape:             Ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Shallowly cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 7.8 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Slightly             rugose, moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface:             Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young foliage:             Closest to 137A with 144A and venation of 146B tinted with             187A at base of midvein. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: Closest to 137C with 146B and venation of 146D.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137B             and venation of 146B tinted with 187A at base of midvein.             Color of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137C             with venation of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             146D tinted with 187A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbeemed’ is a long-day obligate,             vernalization is not required for flowering, freely             flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming late             spring through summer.         -   Lastingness of individual flower.—Approximately 5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Dense terminal verticillasters,             not persistent, facing upward and outward.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 6.             Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Depth or height of             inflorescence: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of inflorescence:             Approximately 5.5 cm, expands to approximately 7.0 cm as             innermost flowers senesce. Quantity of fully-open flowers             per inflorescence: Approximately 35.         -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             146C with a heavy overlay of 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, bilabiate.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Tubular, upper portion             strongly curved downward. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.             Color: 53A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Two lips, upper lip hooded; lower lip, a             single lobe; lips fused. Depth (height): Approximately             3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm.         -   Upper lip.—Shape: Linear, hooded. Aspect: Erect. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Two acute tips. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color             of inner surface when first and fully open: Closest to 53C             with 58B. Color of outer surface when first and fully open:             53A to 53B, becoming close to 61A with senescence.         -   Lower lip.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Notched and curled lobe at apex about 4.0 mm in length and             1.0 mm in width. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper             surface when first and fully open: 53C with 58B, becoming             close to 61B with senescence. Color of lower surface when             first and fully open: Closest to 58A, becoming close to 61A             with senescence.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent.             Color: 53B with 58A, becoming close to 61A with senescence.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused except for acuminate             apex of 1.0 mm in length having an entire margin. Length:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of             inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely             pubescent. Color of inner surface: 146D with 187A on tips.             Color of outer surface: 145C with a heavy overlay of 187A,             overlay darkest at tips.         -   Bracts.—Quantity: Approximately 21 per inflorescence in             multiple whorls. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Length of             larger: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width of larger: Approximately             2.3 cm. Length of smaller: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of             smaller: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of             larger bracts: Closest to 137A with an overlay of 187A.             Color of lower surface of larger bracts: 146B. Color of             upper and lower surfaces of smaller bracts: 145D with a             heavy overlay of 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per             flower, dorsifixed. Filament length: Approximately 3.3 cm.             Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately 2.1 cm.             Filament color: NN155D with an overlay of 53D near anther.             Anther shape: Narrowly elliptic to oblong. Anther length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 53C. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 4D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 3.8 cm. Stigma             shape: Cleft, two-parted. Stigma length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Stigma color: N80A. Style length: Approximately             3.5 cm. Style color: NN155D, opaque with an overlay of N80A             near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary             color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Good resistance to powdery mildew has     been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant named ‘Balbeemed’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 